Haggai

By Robert G. Hugan

"Consider Your Ways!"

INTRO:

Most of the prophets preached BEFORE the captivity. Ezekiel and Daniel prophesied DURING the captivity, and the last three... Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi spoke AFTER the 70 year captivity. The last three messages of the Old Testament are to the Jews AFTER they had returned to Jerusalem.

1. Under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua the people had begun to rebuild the city and they started with the House of God (the temple).

2. It was easy to get the work started when they first arrived in the Holy Land, because everyone was enthusiastic and dedicated.

3. But soon the people grew cold and indifferent and the work lagged and finally stopped.

It is harder to get a work started again than it is to start it initially.

4. The whole purpose of Haggai's ministry was to awaken the lazy people and encourage them to consider their ways and get back to the job!

5. Haggai points out three particular sins that hinder people from "FINISHING THE JOB" and calls US to "CONSIDER OUR WAYS"!

Key verses: 1:7,8

1. PUTTING SELF AHEAD OF GOD (1)

A. THE PEOPLE WERE SELFISH (2-4)

B. THEY WERE "TOO BUSY" ENJOYING LUXURY (9)

C. HAGGAI TOLD THEM THEY WERE "LOSING" (6,9-11)

D. HE CHALLENGED THEM TO PUT GOD FIRST (7,8)

E. THE PEOPLE OBEYED AND WENT TO WORK (12-14)

2. LOOKING BACK INSTEAD OF AHEAD (2:1-9)

A. THE "OLD TIMERS" WERE PESSIMISTIC (1-3)

B. "THINGS AREN'T LIKE THEY USED TO BE"

C. LOOKING BACK CAUSES LINGERING

D. HAGGAI ENCOURAGES THEM TO "LOOK AHEAD" (4-9)

3. FAILING TO CONFESS SINS (2:10-14)

A. THE PEOPLE WERE STILL "UNCLEAN"

B. THEIR WORK WAS NOT "ACCEPTABLE" (14)

C. ONCE THEY CONFESSED, GOD WOULD BLESS (19)

D. IT IS NOT ENOUGH JUST TO "DO" GOD'S WORK; IT MUST BE DONE WITH "CLEAN HANDS AND PURE HEARTS".